Briggs & Stratton steps up to help Red Cross in Oklahoma

WAUWATOSA, Wis. —A Milwaukee-area company has equipped the American Red Cross with some of the emergency tools being used in Oklahoma.

From its headquarters and manufacturing in the Milwaukee area to plants in Alabama and Georgia, Briggs & Stratton generators are being used to help disaster victims.

"And in the case of the poor folks in Oklahoma City, of which our hearts go out to, we know that we have product in the hands of the Red Cross, and lots of it available to them to be there to help with the relief efforts," said Laura Timm of Briggs & Stratton Corp.

Briggs & Stratton asked the American Red Cross in Milwaukee how it could partner with the organization nationally to more quickly respond disaster after disaster. The answer was a $1 million donation of equipment that's in position across the nation.

Briggs & Stratton donated 250 storm responder generators for the American Red Cross across the United States during disasters.

"During a big operation like the one we're seeing in Moore, we'll have a separate headquarters that's set up where we have all the support staff, and they've got computers, all sorts of other things that require electricity," said Nicole Gulatz of the American Red Cross.

But in disaster-stricken areas, it's not just portable generators the American Red Cross said it needs. Cleaning up is a huge concern and Briggs also makes pressure washers, so it donated 275 of those.

"They also use it to wash their own equipment when they're done. So the cots and the tables and the chairs and all those things so they can pack it up and be fully prepared for the next disaster that's going to occur," Timm said.